Ghazni vacation

Currently, I am residing in a little Polish FOB in Ghazni which is south of Shank. We have a MEDEVAC component here that TF BRAWLER supplies. All the MEDEVAC people rotate down here for 2 wks at a time and I really wanted to see it. I had my first day off coming up this week since we are changing shifts so I thought maybe this would be a good, maybe only, opportunity for me to get down here and see Ghazni. It is nice because it is a smaller FOB, I have my own room, and you have a lot of time to just relax. On the downside, you are always on MEDEVAC call but it is slow right now. It is also nice because there is no leadership here and if I want to go to the latrine in flip flops I can. (Usually, I have to wear full uniform/PT uniform to go anywhere. It's little things like that which is nice to have a break from. Also, I like the MEDEVAC guys and just like to BS with them. I have had more sleep here then I have in a long time. Yesterday, I went to the "bizarre" which is just a little area of shacks filled with venders. I met the smallest man I have ever seen at the bizzare. He makes Warwick Davis a.k.a Willow look like a tall fellow. I was really excited to see him but then when it came to getting a picture I was hesitant. Mainly, because I felt like we were making a spectacle of him. But I went in to his shop and he pulled out a chair for me and posed for a picture without me asking. I bought a few things from him including some hand painted pictures which are beautiful. My guilt was lessened as well when group of Polish guys walked over to him and just picked him up and took pictures with him. He had beautiful blue eyes. I go back tomorrow to Shank and will be on my midnight to noon shift. It is more conducive to skype and getting things done. Although, you are off schedule with everyone else. The change up is welcome.

As for my birthday, it was really not bad. It was as good as one could be in Afghanistan. Thank you to all of you for the care packages, cards, and well wishes. I truly am blessed.

Long haul

So it is 2010! Which in my mind means this is going to be a great year since it is my luck number. I also have a birthday fast approaching which I like to express, I'm so sexy I'm so fine, I will soon be 29. (This is stolen from being in high school and graduating in 1999). I think everyone is having a slow recovery from the holidays and settling into the long haul which will most likely be the original 12 months extended to at lease 13 maybe 14 mos. It was to be expected. We are seeing new faces everyday. New units are filtering in, Engineers, Special Forces, etc etc. I keep asking myself if the engineer units try to be douchers or does it just come naturally. I think we all were spoiled having this area to ourselves and now that all these strangers are impinging on our territory it is annoying. They are in our gym, our chow hall, and computer tent. They have terrible gym etiquette, (which I have now settled with myself that I am a workout snob. Not in the type of gym because I like dirty, sweat boxes just fine, but a snob in how you arrange the weights, putting up weights, and resting on the equipment).

A few days ago, I got to volunteer for the Hoist training with the MEDEVAC. That means I was hooked up to a rope and sat on a metal platform/anchor looking thing, and rode up 25ft or so with a medic into a hovering helicopter. It was pretty cool.

Thank you for all the letters, gifts, and thoughts. I appreciate every little thing...down to the 25 year old wash rag that mom felt was essential that I have.

Posted are some pictures of my clinic status post poster decorations compliments of Becky Hill and some pretty pictures of sunset at Shank.